Nimo

Study smarter with Nimo

Personalised revision that adapts to you. Ace your revision with unlimited practice questions that are designed to help you learn faster. We're slowly rolling out to more and more students.

Try Nimo

Human interactions and pollution pathways explained

Ecology • Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Biodiversity measures the variety of species present in a specific area, including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.
  • Areas with high biodiversity, such as tropical rainforests and coral reefs, support diverse ecological roles and interactions that stabilize ecosystems.
  • High biodiversity buffers species from reliance on single food sources or shelter and enhances resilience to environmental changes.
  • Conversely, loss of species and habitats disrupts ecological stability, leading to cascading failures within food webs and ecosystem services.

Flashcards

Test your knowledge with interactive flashcards

What are common air pollutants from combustion?

Click to reveal answer

Oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, particulates, and carbon dioxide.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Biodiversity counts species in an area and supports ecosystem stability.

Cause and effect: remove habitat → fewer niches → population decline → lower biodiversity.

Sewage and pathogens cause disease; fertilisers trigger eutrophication; industrial toxins bioaccumulate.

Sulfur and nitrogen oxides form acid rain; carbon dioxide increases global temperature.

Landfill produces leachate and methane; hazardous waste requires special disposal.

Scale and duration of disturbances determine recovery time; chronic pollution causes long-term loss.

Protected areas, habitat corridors, and breeding programmes actively increase biodiversity.

Recycling and correct disposal of batteries and fridges prevent heavy metal and CFC release.

Built with v0